Private Equity
Ben Bernanke may have declared the recession over yesterday, but talking to early-stage investors, the belt-tightening mindset is still in force. Demand for smaller, more closely vetted deals was part of the impetus for a new program launched yesterday by Tech Coast Angels (TCA) Orange County called O.C. SeedTrack (www.seedtrack.org), targeting companies that are too "start up" for VC funding or even angel funding. The program will provide a mix of funding and mentoring. Qualifying startups get a small amount of financing (less than $100k) as well as the sweat equity of a Tech Coast Angels member. I spoke yesterday to Seedtrack's chairman, John Murphy, and to one of its committee members, Raymond Chan, about their plans for the program. Here’s some of what they said:
2 min read · 16 September 2009
Here in Park City, Utah, at the fall Venture Capital in Rockies conference, HP chief strategy and technology officer Shane Robison told venture investors that he’s glad the company is no longer doing much internal VC. But the $110 billion hardware, software and services giant still has dry powder for M&A, coming on the heels of a couple sizeable acquisitions of venture-backed companies. The Palo Alto, Calif., company is particularly interested in companies developing technologies that tie in with HP R&D initiatives. But when asked whether HP has plans to launch an Intel Capital-type effort to make strategic venture investments, Robison says he sees scant likelihood of that occurring.
2 min read · 09 September 2009
2 min read · 03 September 2009
VCs hope to see big returns from eye-related investments; they’ve put $290M to work in 20 companies this year
8 min read · 01 September 2009
Facebook, Tesla and Twitter are among the VC-backed companies whose shares are being offered on emerging private exchanges
8 min read · 01 September 2009
Three VC-backed startups and two PE-backed companies went public in July and early August, raising more than $900M
2 min read · 01 September 2009
VCs spent a fortune on nanotechnology investments early in the decade, and have since generated very little in the way of returns. But there may be hope for ROI in the near term, if one considers a rise in the introduction of nanotech-enabled products as a positive indicator for future exits. According to a new report from Pew Charitable Trusts’ Project on Emerging Technologies (PEN), over 1,000 nanotechnology-enabled products have been made available to consumers around the world. Recent updates to the inventory list include non-stick cookware, lighter, stronger tennis racquets, and wearable sensors that monitor posture. (See full list here) It’s apparently a big increase from just a few years ago. PEN Director David Rejeski says that when the inventory list launched in March, 2006, they found only 212 products. If the introduction of new products continues at the present rate, he predicts, the number of products listed in the inventory will reach close to 1,600 within the next two years.
2 min read · 26 August 2009
3 min read · 13 August 2009
Venture-backed Internet company founders usually dream of selling out to Google one day. But few imagine it could work the other way around. Until earlier today, that is, when WideOrbit announced that it has agreed to buy Google's radio automation business. San Francisco-based Wide orbit provides software that broadcasters and cable operators use to manage ad revenue, and had raised around $40 million in VC funding from Mayfield Fund, Khosla Ventures, Greycroft Partners and Hearst Ventures. Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, although the online conjecture mill assumes that Google took a hit unloading the assets. The sale includes three Google brands: Google Radio Automation, Maestro and
1 min read · 05 August 2009
2 min read · 30 July 2009
